Glittering
street lights are now come out in the open together with sweet voices of
caroling that knock houses at night and melodic tunes of Christmas songs
letting you feel the real ambiance of a yuletide season.
That is the different
faces of Christmas here in the Philippines. A season which Filipinos really
anticipate for the whole year because of the happiness and peace it brings.
Christmas Tree with decorations
Christmas in the
Philippines is the longest celebration ever in the world. It begins on
September where Christmas lights are starting to set up and it will be ended on
the Epiphany or the feast which 3 Kings had arrived to offer their presents to
baby Jesus by January.
Catholic churches were
conducting a 9-day masses or Simbang Gabi for December 16 to 24 which offers a
belief that if one person completed it, he willl be given an one wish that
will be immediately granted. This was the tradition since then from the Spanish
Colonization on the Philippines. This Mass celebrations were formulated to
commemorate what happened just before the Birth of Christ and also for the
preparation to receive him.
After the mass, there
comes the mouth-watering pastries like bibingka (rice flour and egg-based cake, cooked using
coal burners above and under); putò bumbóng (a purple, sticky rice delicacy steamed in
bamboo tubes, buttered then sprinkled with brown sugar and shredded dried
coconut meat) and some beverages include coffee, salabát (a ginger tisane) and tsokoláte (thick Spanish-style hot chocolate) that
surely entice you to have a taste at very affordable price. Just try it.
Include in the 9-Day
mass celebrations, youths now allowed to carol houses at night together with
their improvised musical instruments. So just prepare your donations for them
as their talent fee.
Famous Filipino food "bibingka" mostly sell
when tradition "simbang gabi" comes
At Christmas eve or
the Bisperas ng Pasko (December 24), malls, markets and department stores are
now crowded in the myriads of rush-hour shoppers buying presents and having
their groceries for the evening’s assorted menu.
At night, just before
hitting the 12 oclock’, all family members are attending the Misa De Aguinaldo
at 10pm so that if they get back home Christmas day already arrived as they eat
together on the Noche Buena along the ding table which includes: queso de bola (Spanish: "ball of cheese"), which
is edam cheese) sealed with red wax; tsokoláte, pasta, fruit salad, pan de sall, relleno and hamón (Christmas ham). It is the time also for
children to wrapp out their christmas gifts coming from their God Parents
(Ninong and Ninang). And the celebration continues.
markets and food stalls
are crowded every Christmas eve
At the morning of
Christmas, Filipinos typically visit members of the extended family, especially
to pay respects to their elders. This custom of giving respect has been an
age-old tradition in the Philippines called "Pagmamáno", which is
done by bringing the elder's hand to one's forehead, while saying the phrase Mano Po ("Hand, please"). The elder then
blesses the person who has given their respect, and in turn gives "Aguinaldo",
or money in the form of crisp, fresh-from-the-bank bills is given after
the Pagmamano, mostly to younger children. Godparents are especially
socially obligated to give presents or Aguinaldo to their godchildren.
A Christmas Lunch
usually follows after the "Pagmamano". The menu is heavily dependent
upon the finances of the family, with richer families preparing grand feasts,
while poorer families choose to cook simple yet special dishes. Some families
choose to open presents on this day after the lunch.
Always in the tradition:"Caroler
Boys"
And that’s the way
Filipinos celebrate the christmas occasionally.
A very remarkable
event for the whole year.
Let’s have a merry Christmas !!!!!!!!!!
God Bless!
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